Story: Vicki (Vicki Caron) is a newlywed and she loves her husband, but the marriage is under some stress due to some unresolved trauma. The romantic spark in the bedroom isn’t there, despite her husband’s efforts and her own, as she can’t block the past out of her mind. As a teenager, Vicki was assaulted and raped, a tragic event that she tries to process, but struggles to do so. In an effort to save her marriage and express her love as she wants to, Vicki agrees to see a hypnotist, Bill (Lash La Rue). The art of hypnosis, he claims, has cured countless people of their anxieties and traumas, so he is confident Vicki can he helped. But will Vicki be able to move on at last or is this all just a scam operation preying on victims?

Entertainment Value: Please Don’t Touch Me blends melodrama, sexual assault, and hypnosis, with an emphasis on the last of the three. This almost feels like an infomercial for hypnosis, as it is credited as the cure to countless ailments, including PTSD, if you believe Lash La Rue’s character. The story is fine and while I doubt it was based on actual events, the film is presented as being based on real life. The inclusion of the sexual assault is handled with more dignity than I expected and Vicki’s husband is better than most in how he handles it, but obviously it was used here mostly to add some scandal to the marketing efforts. At least the movie is firmly supportive of Vicki, even if it does exploit the topic somewhat. The melodrama is what made Please Don’t Touch Me interesting to me, as it has some dialed up, soap opera type sequences and I loved all the period details, from the costumes to set dressing to general vibes. I found this one to be interesting and more memorable than I anticipated, so if you’re curious, give Please Don’t Touch Me a shot.

Vicki Caron is the star here, both as the lead role and in terms of best performance. I wouldn’t call this material deep or complex, but she makes the most of things and turns in some solid work here. She is likable and warm, very natural and believable, while also knowing when to turn up the melodrama. Her charisma is strong and she has solid screen presence, so she elevates the material and without question, is the highlight of Please Don’t Touch Me’s lineup. I’m sure some will be pulled here by Lash La Rue and he has a decent role here, so his fans should appreciate that. The cast also includes Richard Crane, Ruth Blair, and Larry Wallace.

The Disc: Indicator Series brings us this Ron Ormond picture with the best possible sources used, which results in a solid overall presentation. The limitations of the source elements means this is standard definition, but it looks good and has no serious issues to contend with. You can also listen to an audio commentary track on Please Don’t Touch Me, hosted by Ormond biographer Jimmy McDonough. The box set also has a number of other Ormond films, shorts, audio commentaries, and more. Easily one of the most remarkable box sets out there, which is truly a compliment with so many quality releases available.

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